Wheel.



D. H.- ALLEN.

WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1909.

944,532} Patented 1160.28, 1909.

compressed position.

DAVID E. ALLEN, OF IVIIIAMISBURG, OHIO.

WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Application filed May 10, 1909. Serial No. 495,089.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID H. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Miamisburg, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheels, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved wheel.

The objects of the invention are to produce a stronger and cheaper wheeland also to simplify and cheapen the method of manufacture, producing atthe same time a perfectly true wheel.

The features of my invention are more fully set forth in the descriptionof the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich Figure 1 represents a side elevation. Fig.

2 is a section on line 00, 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a central verticalsection through the hub.

1 represents a series of spokes, each having a thicker inner end 2forming the opposite bevels 3, 4, which complete a circle when thespokes are assembled in radial form. The spokes are concentricallycompressed in this form by any suitable compression arrangement, (notshown), operating on the outer ends of the spokes, and the inner endsare closely compacted together to form a hub from the inner ends of thespokes themselves, as shown in Fig. l. l/Vhile the spokes are tapered tofit under compression, the thickened ends 2 are faced by cutting awaywith a suitable tool, and at the same time form the shoulders or bandseats 5, shown in Fig. 2. The bands 6 are then shrunk upon these seats5, holding the spokes together in their This hub is then reinforced bysecuring it between side flanges, the preferred form of which isillustrated in Fig. 3, in which 7 is a sleeve passed through the hub andhaving an integral flange 8 engaging one side of the hub and an annularsuperimposed flange member 9 slipped over the sleeve 7 and engaging theother side of the hub formed by the spokes, these members 8, 9, beinglaterally held together when clamped upon the hub by the bolts 10.

My improvement relates to that style of wheels known as artillery wheelscommonly used for automobiles. As now made, the spokes are finishedcomplete, before assembling, for the construction of the wheel. In

' constructing, the spokes are assembled, the

fellies put on and compressed, bringing the spokes together in thecenter. While in this position, the hub and flange are bolted intoplace. Under this plan, the bevel on the end of each spoke, the lengthof each spoke, and the thickness of the felly must be exact beforeassembling the wheel, and the strength of the wheel depends upon thetire, felly and flanges bolted in the center to hold the spokes inposition. That is, according to the present construction, the wheels arebuilt from the outer circumference inwardly and the parts must beperfectly fitted before assembling. By my method, I bind the beveledends of the spokes in the center, forming a hub from these inner ends ofthe spokes and thus hold the spokes securely in position independent ofany other parts. By my method, the faces of the spokes in the center arenot finished to exact size before assembling, it only being necessarythat the bevels should be true so as to form a true circle when thespokes are radially assembled. The spokes are then assembled andconcentrically compressed. While the inner ends of the spokes are thuscompacted they are bored and faced, and at the same time the shouldersor band seats 5 may be formed. This is done in one operation. The rim orbands 6 are then shrunk upon these seats binding the spokes in positionand forming the hub. If desirable, the band seats and bands may beformed with their inner diameters smaller than their outer diameters, soas to seat them with the bevel formation, preventing their lateraldisplacement. After the spokes are thus bound together, the ends of thespokes may be finished by revolving the wheel on its center, that is,the tenons formed on the end of the spokes in the usual manner. 7

' 11 represents the felly.

It will be observed that this method reverses the ordinary method, thatis, the wheel is built from the center outwardly instead of from thecircumference inwardly. The manufacture is very much simplified and astronger wheel is produced.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a wheel, a series of spokesconcentrically compressed together at their inner ends, a band securedupon a seat formed on the contacting ends of the spokes while held undercompression and binding them securely together in wheel form,substantially as described.

2. A wheel composed of a series of spokes having thicker beveled innerends coinpressed together concentrically, and a circumferential bindingseated upon the contacted ends of the spokes While held undercompression, substantially as described.

3. A Wheel formed of a series of spokes having thicker beveled innerends assembled and concentrically compressed, a seat being formed oneach side of the thickened ends 10 of the spokes While compressed, and aband shrunk upon each seat, thereby circumferentially binding the spokestogether in their compressed position and forming a hub, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 15 my hand.

DAVID H. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

OLIVER B. KAIsnR, EMMA SPENER.

